Meaning, commentary and cross references
Genesis 2:7
“then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
NIV · New International Version
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
WEB · World English Bible
The LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
What does Genesis 2:7 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Genesis 2:7
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground,.... Not of dry dust, but, as Josephus (h) says, of red earth macerated, or mixed with water; the like notion Hesiod (i) has; or out of clay, as in Job 33:6 hence a word is made use of, translated "formed", which is used of the potter that forms his clay into what shape he pleases: the original matter of which man was made was clay; hence the clay of Prometheus (k) with the Heathens; and God is the Potter that formed him, and gave him the shape he has, see Isaiah 64:8, there are two "jods", it is observed, in the word, which is not usual; respecting, as Jarchi thinks, the formation of man for this world, and for the resurrection of the…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Genesis 2:4–7
When our Lord Jesus anointed the blind man's eyes with clay perhaps he intimated that it was he who at first formed man out of the clay; and when he breathed on his disciples, saying, Receive you the Holy Ghost, he intimated that it was he who at first breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life. He that made the soul is alone able to new-make it.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Genesis 2:7
And the Lord God formed man He now explains what he had before omitted in the creation of man, that his body was taken out of the earth. He had said that he was formed after the image of God. This is incomparably the highest nobility; and, lest men should use it as an occasion of pride, their first origin is placed immediately before them; whence they may learn that this advantage was adventitious; for Moses relates that man had been, in the beginning, dust of the earth. Let foolish men now go and boast of the excellency of their nature!
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Genesis 2:4–10 (WEB)
4This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. 5No plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth. There was not a man to till the ground, 6but a mist went up from the earth, and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7The LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8The LORD God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9Out of the ground the LORD God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became the source of four rivers.
Cross references
- Ecclesiastes 12:7
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
- 1 Corinthians 15:45
So also it is written, “The first man Adam became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
- Job 33:4
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
- Isaiah 64:8
But now, LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay and you our potter. We all are the work of your hand.
- Acts 17:25
He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.
- 1 Corinthians 15:47
The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
- Job 27:3
(for the length of my life is still in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils);
- Genesis 3:19
You will eat bread by the sweat of your face until you return to the ground, for you were taken out of it. For you are dust, and you shall return to dust.”